MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Thematic Analysis
using MAXQDA
Christina Silver, PhD., FAcSS., SFHEA
www.qdaservices.co.uk

christina.silver@qdaservices.co.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS
Mastodon: @ChristinaSilver@sciences.social
Twitter: @Christina_QDAS
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christina-qdas/
Instagram: @christina_qdas
Facebook: facebook.com/QDAservices
YouTube: youtube.com/@ChristinaSilverPhD
Podcast: anchor.fm/christina-qdas
Blog: https://www.qdaservices.co.uk/blog
Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/Christina-Silver
Academia.edu: surrery.academia.edu/ChristinaSilver

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Thematic analysis• Many different TA approaches – long history• Popularized by Braun & Clarke from 2006
• Their latest book published 2021

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

6 phases of reflexive thematic analysis(Braun & Clarke 2021)

Phase 1:
Familiarizing yourself with thedataset

Phase 6:
Writing up

Phase 2:
CodingPhase 3:Generating initial themes

Phase 5:
Refining, defining and naming
themesPhase 4:
Developing and reviewing
themes5

Today…
powerup your thematic analysis
how can we harness
MAXQDA tools
powerfully for tasks
involved in thematicanalysis…?

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Phase 1: familiarizing yourself with thedataset

Braun & Clarke 2021:35

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 1: familiarizing yourself with thedataset• ‘immersion’ = working at the data-levelHow can
MAXQDA help?

• Can happen slow, low or fast, high• Reading and re-reading (slow, low)
• HIGHLIGHTING (before import or after)• Reading and re-reading (fast, high)• MAXDICTIO TOOLS (Word Frequencies, Word Combinations,Interactive Word Tree)

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

High, fast – Word Frequency & Word combinations(cloud visualisation)

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver10Interactive Word Tree

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Getting back to context – always possible

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

12Phase 1: familiarising yourself with thedataset• Making (brief) notes about analytic ideas• Related to each data item: PARAPHRASES, COMMENTS• Relates to the dataset as a whole: MEMOS• Visualising those notes• At the data level (margin view)• Gathered together (via codes)• Exporting

How can
MAXQDA help?

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Familiarising by taking brief notes related toeach data item - PARAPHRASING

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Familiarising by taking brief notes related tothe dataset as a whole - MEMOS

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Visualising notes – at the individual data item
level and gathered together via a ‘code’

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 2: coding

Braun & Clarke 2021:35
Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

Phase 2: coding

11/09/2024

How canMAXQDA help?

• Building on Phase 1 work – continuation not separate• Categorize paraphrases• And/Or…code separately from paraphrasing• Capturing ‘analytic meaning’ – beyond code labels• colour, sets, hierarchy, memos

Auto-coding
and AI Assist
may also havea place…

• Collate code labels then compile data segments• This happens as part of the coding process when working in MAXQDA– doesn’t need to be a separate step!
This allows for continual retrieval/review/recoding - ITERATION

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Coding – building on paraphrasing

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Collate code labels then compile data segments –THIS HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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AI Assist(ance) with coding

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Phase 3: generating initial themes

Braun & Clarke 2021:35
Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 3: generating initial themes

How canMAXQDA help?

• Identify shared patterned meaning across the dataset• Sub-code statistics, Code Matrix Browser, Code Relations Browser,Crosstabs, Summary Tables,• Compile clusters of codes• Code hierarchies, Code sets, Maps, Smart Coding• Collate all coded data relevant to each candidate theme• Happens incrementally as carry out earlier tasks

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Identify shared patterned meanings
across the dataset

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Compile clusters of codes

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Compile clusters of codes

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 4: developing and reviewing themes

Braun & Clarke 2021:35
Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Phase 4: developing and reviewing themes• Assess the fit / check themes ‘make sense’ – level of extracts& dataset• Numerous retrieval options – always connected to source context• Radical revision• Smart coding, Creative coding, Sets

• Consider relationship between themes

How canMAXQDA help?

• Code matrix and relations browsers, crosstabs, models• …with existing knowledge• MAXQDA project as container for all project materials – e.g. literatureand data

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver30-> radical revision – Creative Coding

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Developing and reviewing themes –numerous options – MAXmaps

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Considering relationships between themes

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Considering relationships between themes –according to characteristics (Crosstabs)

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 5: refining, defining and naming
themesBraun & Clarke 2021:36

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Phase 5: refining, defining and naming themes• Ensure themes are clearly demarcated• Maps, coding queries

How can
MAXQDA help?

• Write brief synopsis• Memos, summaries• Punchy, informative name for each theme• Code names, memos

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver36Writing synopsis - summaries

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Phase 6: writing up

Braun & Clarke 2021:36

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Phase 6: writing up

How can
MAXQDA help?

• Writing spaces integrated throughout• Paraphrases, comments, memos, project log, summaries• Dynamic / grounded / visual representations of qualitative dataand themes• Maps, Models – that include coded segments• Quote matrices, Charts (e.g. heatmaps illustrating theme saturation)• Save evidence as proceed• Export anything in many formats – e.g. versions of codebook as it develops• QTT tool (Questions – Themes – Theories)• Export selected project elements in structured report• Smart Publisher & via QTT

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

Using MAXQDA for thematic analysis:
maximize flexibility, iteration, transparency– because everything is CONNECTEDFamiliarize
with
data

Code

Generate
initialthemesRefine,define
andnamethemesDevelopand review
themesWritingup

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Move thepieces
around…without
losingconnection

Familiarize
with
data

Develop andreview themes

CodeWrite

Generate initial
themesRefine, define
and name
themesDoing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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MAXdays2024
Thematic Analysis with MAXQDA Spotlight

11/09/2024

References• Braun V & Clarke V (2021) Thematic Analysis: A practical guide. Sage Publications• Gizzi M.C. & Rädiker S (eds.) (2021 ) The Practice of Qualitative Data Analysis: Researchexamples using MAXQDA. MAXQDA Press.
• Schmieder C (2018) A thematic analysis to evaluate an education program: constructing and usinga large organizational dataset in Woolf & Silver Qualitative Analysis using MAXQDA: The FiveLevel QDA method. Routledge

Doing Thematic Analysis using MAXQDA – Christina Silver

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Thank you…
….questions, comments…
Christina Silver, PhD., FAcSS., SFHEA
www.qdaservices.co.uk

christina.silver@qdaservices.co.uk
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS
Mastodon: @ChristinaSilver@sciences.social
Twitter: @Christina_QDAS
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christina-qdas/
Instagram: @christina_qdas
Facebook: facebook.com/QDAservices
YouTube: youtube.com/@ChristinaSilverPhD
Podcast: anchor.fm/christina-qdas
Blog: https://www.qdaservices.co.uk/blog
Research Gate: researchgate.net/profile/Christina-Silver
Academia.edu: surrery.academia.edu/ChristinaSilver

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christina@qdas.co.uk
linktr.ee/Christina_QDAS

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